Puerto Varas, Chile, watercolor on Arches paper

PUERTO VARAS, CHILE, watercolor on Arches paper, 9x12 in.
This is one of the five paintings accepted for exhibition at the San Diego County Fair, THE FAB FAIR!, which opens June 7, and goes till July 6. Fine art, fun and games, in Del Mar.

At the Watercolor Biennial in Shenzhen, China, the need for international exchange was very strong, according to comments in the June issue of Watercolor magazine. There were people from all over the world. Linda Baker said: "I was moved not by the differences but by the sameness. We were one in the pursuit of art."

PUERTO VARAS, CHILE, watercolor

Puerto Varas, Chile, watercolor, 9x12 inches
South America Cruise aboard Carnival Splendor series # 29

Puerto Varas is only 16 km. from Puerto Montt, where the cruise ship stopped. Puerto Varas is inside, overlooking Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake in Chile, and one of the largest lakes in South America. It has waves like a sea or ocean, and on the shore there, you cannot see the other side. This town is also called "City of Roses, due to the large variety and quantity of roses planted everywhere. Between 1850 and 1880 the Chilean government asked Germany to send people, families, here, and gave them land, and a few animals to start working the land and establish farms. Today, Puerto Varas and the surrounding area looks like Bavaria, with signs in Spanish. Well cared gardens, beautiful homes, snow capped mountains, rivers and the beautiful lake Llanquihue. What a blessing to have been able to visit this place!

PUERTO MONTT, GERMAN HOUSE, Chile, watercolor

Puerto Montt, German House, Chile, watercolor, 9x12 in.
South America Cruise series # 28

Puerto Montt is set among lakes, fiords, and rivers, and nestled at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Beautiful homes surrounded by parks in an ideal setting were all along the drive to Puerto Varas and Petrohue. We visited the Feria Artesanal Angelmo, an artisan market with Chilean products: woven items of wool and alpaca from Chiloé, the big island off the coast nearby.  Such a beautiful day in that area, I highly recommend visiting Puerto Montt and its surroundings!